Do SS Pins For Tumbling Brass Wear Out?

Will the stainless pins wear out with use? Just curious as it seems it is taking longer now for the pins to clean out primer pockets than they did when new. I assume since they are also tumbling into each other and not just the brass that eventually they will become rounded on the ends. The way they seem to escape from my tumbler I will probably need to replace them before they wear out. These pins are like jumping beans and end up all over the basement and garage.

I have one of the Thumbler tumblers and the lid is covered with a sheet of rubber and a metal plate. Right now I pull each piece of brass from the tumbler and shake the pins out, so this probably has something to do with out they escape. Is there a better way to separate the brass from the pins without making a mess?

FROGO207

March 30, 2012, 04:04 AM

Parker 51 I do it as you do. I use that time to inspect the brass and wipe the outside off as my QC check. If you want to just separate the brass from the media get one of the spinner type separators that are covered with a lid. I think that FA makes one that you use in a 5 gallon bucket. There are members here that use those with great success. As to the media wearing out, yes it stands to reason that eventually the pins will loose their sharp edges and not clean as fast as when brand new. Once a point is reached the media will get no worse for a long long time so I personally feel that a 10-15 year lifespan would be typical for an average reloader. I bought a second batch of pins when first starting out thinking of that eventuality. BTW the rubber liner will thin and get holes in it eventually also so plan on that also but it will take a few years.